What you put in your box matters: supporting yourself in your role of activity coordinator

Last week, I shared a mindset shift that stayed with me after hearing a phrase on a podcast.

You are the box. https://www.brightcopperkettles.co.uk/post/mindset-for-care-home-activity-coordinators

This week, I want to take that idea a little further, because if you are the box, then what you put inside it really matters.

Not just for residents.

But for you.

Supporting yourself in the role of activity coordinator isn’t a luxury. It’s essential if the work you do is going to be sustainable, meaningful, and enjoyable over time.

The tools you carry make a difference

If you want your box (that’s you) to be successful, you need to make sure it holds the right tools.

Some of those tools are about knowledge.

Knowing your residents as individuals, rather than as a group.

Understanding dementia, and recognising that it can affect someone differently from day to day.

Accepting that what works today might not work tomorrow - and that this isn’t a failure.

Holding this understanding helps protect you from frustration and self-blame when things don’t go to plan.

Working with the rhythm of your care home

Another important tool is understanding the rhythm of your care home.

Knowing:

• when things are naturally quieter

• when meals happen

• when drinks breaks take place

• when colleagues are busiest

  
  

When you understand the flow of the day, you stop constantly pushing against it.

You plan in a way that feels more realistic, and that in turn reduces pressure on you.

- see my previous blog post https://www.brightcopperkettles.co.uk/post/learning-the-rhythm

Working with the rhythm, rather than against it, is a form of self-support.

Knowing yourself belongs in the box too

Supporting yourself also means knowing yourself.

Your strengths. Your limitations. Your skills.

The things that energise you, and the things that drain you.

You don’t need to be good at everything to be a good activity coordinator. When you shape your role around what you do well, your work becomes more sustainable and more enjoyable.

It’s also worth thinking about what brings you joy.

The flowers you like to bring in. The music you’re drawn to. The interests that lift your mood without effort.

When parts of your role reflect who you are, your enthusiasm feels more natural, and that benefits you as much as it benefits residents.

Clarity reduces pressure

Another tool that supports you is clarity.

What does your manager expect from you?

What do colleagues expect?

What do residents expect?

And what do families and friends who visit regularly expect?

These expectations aren’t always written down, but they still shape how your role feels.

When expectations are unclear, it’s easy to feel pulled in different directions or to believe you’re falling short when you’re not.

Gaining clarity helps you focus your energy where it truly matters, rather than trying to do everything at once.

Seeding ideas and easing the load on yourself

Sometimes, particularly when supporting people living with dementia, you need to seed ideas rather than ask open questions.

Residents won’t always know what’s available, and they won’t always be able to imagine options unless they’re offered clearly.

It’s like asking someone which chocolate they’d like without showing them what’s in the box. A series of “no” responses isn’t rejection - it’s uncertainty.

Seeding ideas helps residents respond more easily, and it also eases the emotional load on you. It removes the pressure to keep coming up with the perfect question.

Start small to protect yourself

This is where self-support really matters.

You don’t need big, fancy activities to be successful.

Starting with large, impressive ideas often creates pressure - pressure to repeat them, to outdo them, or to live up to how they looked from the outside.

Something can feel like a success because staff enjoyed it or it gained attention, but when you look closely, only a small number of residents may have benefited.

That’s a lot of pressure on you for very little long-term value.

Starting small allows you to build, adapt, and notice what truly works, without burning yourself out.

Quiet successes are often the most sustainable ones.

Choose what stays in your box to support your role of activity coordinator

When you step back, supporting yourself as an activity coordinator means being intentional about what you carry.

Your box needs space for:

• understanding residents

• understanding dementia

• understanding the rhythm of your care home

• understanding yourself

• clarity around expectations

• permission to start small

  
  

These are the tools that protect your energy and support you in the role you do every day.

Not perfect. Not impressive. But realistic, human, and sustainable.

And that’s what really matters.

And sometimes, one of the most supportive things you can put in your box is a starting point.

When your head is full, your energy is low, or you’re not sure which way to turn next, having somewhere to begin matters. Not a rigid plan, but ideas you can dip into, adapt, and shape using what you already know about your residents and your care home.

That’s exactly how the Activity Coordinators Toolbox  is designed to be used - not as the box itself, but as something you place inside your box. A practical support you can lean on when you need ideas, inspiration, or reassurance, while still trusting your own knowledge and instincts.

Sometimes knowing where to start is the tool that makes everything else feel possible.